Chelsea Clinton speaks at the "Our Voices, Our Future" event on the UH-West O'ahu campus on a campaign swing for her mother, Hillary Rodham Clinton.

ANDREW SHIMABUKU | The Honolulu Advertiser

Heading into the final weekend before Tuesday's Democratic caucuses, campaigns for Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama worked to build excitement yesterday, with Chelsea Clinton drumming up support for her mother and actress Kelly Hu rallying students for Obama.

Chelsea Clinton made two public appearances in Honolulu and plans several more today before flying to Maui for a rally tomorrow.

The former first daughter's visit to Hawai'i shows just how seriously the Clinton campaign is taking Hawai'i.

There was barely room to move in the Kalihi-Palama Health Center Downtown clinic, as hundreds of people crammed into the building for the chance to talk to Clinton, take photos and get her autograph.

"It's very exciting," said David Kona, 15, as a crowd gathered on the sidewalk in front of the clinic, waiting for Clinton to arrive.

Clinton focused on the issue of universal healthcare, telling a packed waiting room that the center was the type of facility Hillary Clinton hopes to see across the country: "A synthesis of prevention and care and community outreach, culturally informed healthcare delivery. ... This is why she's so dedicated to community healthcare."

Later, before dozens of staff and faculty members at the University of Hawai'i-West O'ahu, the 27-year-old deftly fielded questions on her mother's views on universal healthcare, the war in Iraq, the economy, the environment and other issues.

What some called Chelsea Clinton's poise and articulate answers prompted one person to ask her whether she planned to follow in her parents' footsteps and go into politics.

"My political aspirations stretch to try to do everything I can to have my mom be my president," she told a crowd gathered to hear her at UH-West O'ahu. "I believe in my mom, there's no one in the world that I believe in more and I love more and I trust more."

After the appearance, UH-West O'ahu student Amanda Silliman said, "I'm informed now more than I was before. It would be really nice to see a female president in the White House who has reasonable policies."

OBAMA RALLY

At a student rally for Obama at the University of Hawai'i at Manoa, Maya Soetoro-Ng, his half-sister, spoke about her brother to a group of about 250 people — most of whom were under 30. Energy at the event was high and picked up even more as Hu pumped up the crowd with pledges to get out the vote for a native son.

"We have a chance here to create a new story about the future," Soetoro-Ng told the crowd, which erupted in applause.

The speeches were preceded by chants of, "Yes, we can."

Christina Bermudez, 23, epitomized many of the younger people in the crowd.

She said she has never before felt compelled to participate in politics.

But, she said, there's something about Obama.

"It's about hope," Bermudez said. "I actually would like to get more involved in the campaign."

Soetoro-Ng spoke to the students in the crowd about what she called her brother's special ties to the university.

As children, she said, the two would search for toads in Manoa Stream and romp around the campus searching for something to do.

Obama's parents were fellows at the East-West Center. "Our memories fill this space and we are filled by this campus," she said. "He (Obama) has a strong affinity for all of the rhythms of these Islands. Barack knows us."

CAMPAIGN EVENTS

Campaigns for U.S. Sens. Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama will be holding events in Hawai'i today and tomorrow.

CAMPAIGN EVENTS

Here is a day-by-day list of events, provided by the respective campaigns: